Fostering Connections Resource Center

The Fostering Connections Resource Center gratefully acknowledges the National Conference of State Legislatures for sharing its tracking information about pending and enacted legislation. Please visit NCSL for additional information.

Enacted Kinship/Guardianship Legislation in Michigan

Guardianship Assistance Act

Bill: SB 227, Public Act 15; Status: Enacted

Summary: Creates the Guardianship Assistance Act to provide a negotiated, binding agreement for financial support for children who meet the qualifications for guardianship assistance. Sets eligibility of child and guardian. Specifies that only a relative who is a licensed foster parent caring for a child who is eligible to receive Title IV-E funded foster care payments for 6 consecutive months is eligible for federal funding under Title IV-E for guardianship assistance. States that a child not eligible for Title IV-E funding who is placed with a relative is eligible for state-funded guardianship-assistance.

Sponsored by Senators Clark-Coleman, Jansen, Pappageorge, Birkholz, Switalski, Gleason, Hunter, Anderson, Whitmer, Jacobs, Basham, Cherry, Olshove, Scott, Thomas, Prusi, Brater, Clarke, and Allen


Guardianship Assistance Program

Bill: SR 27; Status: Enacted

Summary: Urges Congress to take certain actions with regard to the federal guardianship assistance program by revising the funding to allow the six-month residency requirement to begin to run prior to licensing of the home, provided that both the home is licensed and the residency requirement is met before federal funding begins.

Sponsored by Senator Clark-Coleman